Giuseppe Bergomi
Encyclopedia
Giuseppe Bergomi is a retired Italian
footballer who spent his entire career at Internazionale
, being equally at ease as a central or right defender.
He held the record of most appearances for the club for several years, while also being the side's longtime captain. He was affectionately referred to as "Lo zio" ("the uncle
") because of the impressive moustache
he wore even as a youngster.
Bergomi won more than 80 caps
for the Italian national team
, appearing in four World Cups
- including the 1982 edition
which ended in triumph - and Euro 1988.
, Bergomi begun training with F.C. Internazionale Milano
's first team at the age of only 16, and made his professional debut in the 1980–81 season, the following year. The 20 Serie A
seasons he went on to spend with his sole club were often in the shadow of A.C. Milan
, as he only won the Scudetto once, in 1989 (he did conquer the UEFA Cup on three occasions). For a moment in his career, he held the records for both the most appearances in European competition
by an Italian player and the most Milan derbies played, both broken by Paolo Maldini
.
Bergomi retired in 1999 at the age of almost 36, holding the record of most appearances for Inter until late September 2011, when he was overtaken by Argentine
Javier Zanetti
. He was named by Pelé
as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers
in March 2004.
, Bergomi won the 1982 FIFA World Cup
, and also played in the 1986
and 1990
campaigns, as well as UEFA Euro 1988. Alongside the likes of AC Milan legend Franco Baresi
and Juventus FC
's Antonio Cabrini
and Gaetano Scirea
, he formed the backbone of the national team's defence for much of the 1980s, making his debut on 14 April 1982 in a 0–1 friendly
loss in East Germany
, aged only 18 years and 3 months; in the victorious World Cup run in Spain
, he appeared in three games, including the full 180 minutes in the last two matches.
After being sent off
in a match against Norway
in an Euro 1992 qualifier, Bergomi spent years without getting a callback to the Azzurri, but received a surprise recall for the 1998 World Cup
, at nearly 35, after playing 28 times in the league and leading the Nerazzurri to the UEFA Cup – his third and last.
, being promoted as head of the Berretti under-19 team, in co-operation with Giuseppe Chieppa, one year later.
In July 2011, Bergomi left Monza to accept the same position at Atalanta BC
.
Additionally, he also worked as a football pundit and commentator for Italian satellite television Sky Italia
, often commentating with Fabio Caressa
, including in Italy's victorious run at the 2006 World Cup
.
|1979–80||rowspan="20"|Inter
||rowspan="20"|Serie A
||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||1||0
|-
|1980–81||12||0||colspan="2"|-||4||0||16||0
|-
|1981–82||24||2||10||2||4||0||38||4
|-
|1982–83||28||1||9||1||6||0||43||2
|-
|1983–84||25||0||5||0||5||0||35||0
|-
|1984–85||29||2||9||0||10||0||48||2
|-
|1985–86||30||5||6||0||10||0||46||5
|-
|1986–87||28||2||9||0||8||0||45||2
|-
|1987–88||28||1||9||0||5||0||42||1
|-
|1988–89||32||1||8||0||6||0||46||1
|-
|1989–90||33||2||5||0||2||0||40||2
|-
|1990–91||30||3||4||1||12||0||46||4
|-
|1991–92||29||0||6||0||2||0||37||0
|-
|1992–93||31||2||6||0||colspan="2"|-||37||2
|-
|1993–94||31||0||4||0||12||0||47||0
|-
|1994–95||32||1||7||1||2||0||41||2
|-
|1995–96||27||0||5||0||1||0||33||0
|-
|1996–97||19||0||7||0||10||0||36||0
|-
|1997–98||28||0||5||0||9||0||42||0
|-
|1998–99||23||1||7||0||9||0||39||1
519||23||120||5||117||0||756||28
519||23||120||5||117||0||756||28
|1982||6||0
|-
|1983||4||0
|-
|1984||9||0
|-
|1985||7||0
|-
|1986||8||2
|-
|1987||8||1
|-
|1988||11||2
|-
|1989||10||1
|-
|1990||12||0
|-
|1991||2||0
|-
|1992||0||0
|-
|1993||0||0
|-
|1994||0||0
|-
|1995||0||0
|-
|1996||0||0
|-
|1997||0||0
|-
|1998||4||0
|-
!Total||81||6
|}
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
footballer who spent his entire career at Internazionale
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
, being equally at ease as a central or right defender.
He held the record of most appearances for the club for several years, while also being the side's longtime captain. He was affectionately referred to as "Lo zio" ("the uncle
Uncle
An uncle is a type of familial relationship.Uncle may also refer to:* Uncle , by J. P. Martin* U.N.C.L.E., a fictional organization in the TV series The Man from U.N.C.L.E....
") because of the impressive moustache
Moustache
A moustache is facial hair grown on the outer surface of the upper lip. It may or may not be accompanied by a type of beard, a facial hair style grown and cropped to cover most of the lower half of the face.-Etymology:...
he wore even as a youngster.
Bergomi won more than 80 caps
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
for the Italian national team
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, appearing in four World Cups
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
- including the 1982 edition
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
which ended in triumph - and Euro 1988.
Club career
Born in MilanMilan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Bergomi begun training with F.C. Internazionale Milano
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
's first team at the age of only 16, and made his professional debut in the 1980–81 season, the following year. The 20 Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
seasons he went on to spend with his sole club were often in the shadow of A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
, as he only won the Scudetto once, in 1989 (he did conquer the UEFA Cup on three occasions). For a moment in his career, he held the records for both the most appearances in European competition
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
by an Italian player and the most Milan derbies played, both broken by Paolo Maldini
Paolo Maldini
Paolo Cesare Maldini is an Italian former footballer who played as a left or central defender. He spent all 25 seasons of his career at Serie A club Milan, before retiring at the age of 41 in 2009, becoming a symbol and a legend of the club...
.
Bergomi retired in 1999 at the age of almost 36, holding the record of most appearances for Inter until late September 2011, when he was overtaken by Argentine
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
Javier Zanetti
Javier Zanetti
Javier Adelmar Zanetti is an Argentine footballer who plays for Serie A club Inter. Javier Zanetti has played for Inter since 1995, taking the captain's armband from 29 August 1999. Known for his versatility, he is adept on both the left and right wing, having played on both flanks as a fullback...
. He was named by Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
as one of the top 125 greatest living footballers
FIFA 100
The FIFA 100 is a list of the world-renowned Brazilian striker Pelé's choice of the "greatest living footballers". Unveiled on 4 March 2004 at a gala ceremony in London, the FIFA 100 marked part of the celebrations of the 100th anniversary of the foundation of the Fédération Internationale de...
in March 2004.
International career
With ItalyItaly national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
, Bergomi won the 1982 FIFA World Cup
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, and also played in the 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
and 1990
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
campaigns, as well as UEFA Euro 1988. Alongside the likes of AC Milan legend Franco Baresi
Franco Baresi
Franco Baresi is an Italian football youth team coach and former player. He played as a sweeper and spent his entire career with Serie A club AC Milan, acknowledged as one of the greatest defenders ever to play the game. Baresi was nicknamed "Piscinin", Milanese for "Little one"...
and Juventus FC
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
's Antonio Cabrini
Antonio Cabrini
Antonio Cabrini is an Italian football former player. He played left-back, mainly with Juventus. He won the 1982 FIFA World Cup with the Italian national team....
and Gaetano Scirea
Gaetano Scirea
Gaetano Scirea was an Italian football player who is considered one of the greatest defenders of all-time.Scirea is one of only five players in European football history to have won all international trophies for football clubs recognized by UEFA and FIFA...
, he formed the backbone of the national team's defence for much of the 1980s, making his debut on 14 April 1982 in a 0–1 friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
loss in East Germany
East Germany national football team
The East Germany national football team was from 1952 to 1990 the football team of East Germany, playing as one of three post-war German teams, along with Saarland and West Germany....
, aged only 18 years and 3 months; in the victorious World Cup run in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, he appeared in three games, including the full 180 minutes in the last two matches.
After being sent off
Ejection (sports)
In sports, an ejection is one of several disqualifying actions assessed to a player or coach by a game official , usually for unsportsmanlike conduct....
in a match against Norway
Norway national football team
The Norway national football team represents Norway in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Norway, the governing body for football in Norway. Norway's home ground is Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo and their head coach is Egil Olsen...
in an Euro 1992 qualifier, Bergomi spent years without getting a callback to the Azzurri, but received a surprise recall for the 1998 World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
, at nearly 35, after playing 28 times in the league and leading the Nerazzurri to the UEFA Cup – his third and last.
Post-playing career
A licensed football coach, Bergomi became youth coach of Esordienti at Inter in 2008. In July 2009 he was appointed youth coach of Allievi Nazionali (under-17) at A.C. Monza Brianza 1912A.C. Monza Brianza 1912
Associazione Calcio Monza Brianza 1912 is an Italian football club based in Monza, Lombardy.Founded in 1912, Monza currently plays in Lega Pro Prima Divisione group A, having last been in Serie B in 2000. Monza spent the last few years in Serie C1 and Serie C2.-History:Monza was founded on 1...
, being promoted as head of the Berretti under-19 team, in co-operation with Giuseppe Chieppa, one year later.
In July 2011, Bergomi left Monza to accept the same position at Atalanta BC
Atalanta B.C.
Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football club based in Bergamo, Lombardy.They are nicknamed the Nerazzurri and the orobici...
.
Additionally, he also worked as a football pundit and commentator for Italian satellite television Sky Italia
Sky Italia
Sky Italia S.r.l. is an Italian digital satellite television platform owned by News Corporation launched on 1 August 2003, when the former platforms TELE+ and Stream TV merged together...
, often commentating with Fabio Caressa
Fabio Caressa
Fabio Caressa is a famous Italian journalist and football commentator, broadcasting for SKY Italia.He began his career in 1986 and in 1991 was chosen to take part in the commentators team for the newly founded Italian pay tv Tele+, founded by the Canal+ Group...
, including in Italy's victorious run at the 2006 World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
Club
|-|1979–80||rowspan="20"|Inter
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
||rowspan="20"|Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|-||1||0
|-
|1980–81||12||0||colspan="2"|-||4||0||16||0
|-
|1981–82||24||2||10||2||4||0||38||4
|-
|1982–83||28||1||9||1||6||0||43||2
|-
|1983–84||25||0||5||0||5||0||35||0
|-
|1984–85||29||2||9||0||10||0||48||2
|-
|1985–86||30||5||6||0||10||0||46||5
|-
|1986–87||28||2||9||0||8||0||45||2
|-
|1987–88||28||1||9||0||5||0||42||1
|-
|1988–89||32||1||8||0||6||0||46||1
|-
|1989–90||33||2||5||0||2||0||40||2
|-
|1990–91||30||3||4||1||12||0||46||4
|-
|1991–92||29||0||6||0||2||0||37||0
|-
|1992–93||31||2||6||0||colspan="2"|-||37||2
|-
|1993–94||31||0||4||0||12||0||47||0
|-
|1994–95||32||1||7||1||2||0||41||2
|-
|1995–96||27||0||5||0||1||0||33||0
|-
|1996–97||19||0||7||0||10||0||36||0
|-
|1997–98||28||0||5||0||9||0||42||0
|-
|1998–99||23||1||7||0||9||0||39||1
519||23||120||5||117||0||756||28
519||23||120||5||117||0||756||28
International
|-|1982||6||0
|-
|1983||4||0
|-
|1984||9||0
|-
|1985||7||0
|-
|1986||8||2
|-
|1987||8||1
|-
|1988||11||2
|-
|1989||10||1
|-
|1990||12||0
|-
|1991||2||0
|-
|1992||0||0
|-
|1993||0||0
|-
|1994||0||0
|-
|1995||0||0
|-
|1996||0||0
|-
|1997||0||0
|-
|1998||4||0
|-
!Total||81||6
|}
Club
- Italian LeagueSerie ASerie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
: 1988–89 - Italian CupCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
: 1981–82 - Italian SupercupSupercoppa ItalianaThe Supercoppa Italiana is a pre-season football competition held the week before the season begins in Italy every year. It is contested by the winners of the Serie A and the Coppa Italia in the previous season, as a curtain raiser to the new season. It is usually played at the home of the Serie A...
: 19891989 Supercoppa ItalianaThe 1989 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 1988–89 Serie A winners Internazionale and 1988–89 Coppa Italia winners Sampdoria. It took place on 29 September 1989 at the San Siro in Milan, Italy... - UEFA Cup: 1990–91, 1993–94, 1997–98
Country
- FIFA World CupFIFA World CupThe FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
: 19821982 FIFA World CupThe 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
; Third place 19901990 FIFA World CupThe 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...